Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss the Black Stars’ opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Panama after a Canadian court upheld the decision to deny him entry into the country.
The Ottawa court dismissed an appeal against the refusal of Partey’s Temporary Resident Visa, bringing an end to days of legal and diplomatic efforts by the Ghanaian government to secure the midfielder’s availability for the tournament opener.
Lawyers representing the Canadian government argued during the hearing that Partey should not receive special treatment because he is a professional footballer, insisting that Canadian immigration laws apply equally to everyone.
The 33-year-old was denied entry due to ongoing legal proceedings in the United Kingdom, where he has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault involving four women.
The ruling is a significant setback for Ghana and head coach Carlos Queiroz, who had been expected to rely on the experienced midfielder to anchor the team against Panama in Toronto.
While Partey will be unavailable for matches played in Canada, he remains eligible to feature in the United States after being granted entry for Ghana’s remaining Group L fixtures against England and Croatia.
His absence leaves Ghana without one of their most experienced players as the Black Stars prepare to begin their fifth FIFA World Cup campaign against Panama on June 17 at BMO Field.
